Good Things & God Things

Have you ever noticed that nearly every time someone follows Jesus,
they leave something behind? Levi leaves his tax booth (Luke
5:27-28). Peter & Andrew left their nets, and James & John left the
boat and their father (Matthew 4:18-22). The woman at the well left
her water jar (John 4:28). The man who found the treasure hidden in a
field and the merchant looking for fine pearl sold all they had for
the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 13:44-46). It is a subtle but
consistent theme in the Gospels: To follow Jesus means to forsake
something else.

When responding to Jesus' call to follow Him, common thought in many
Christian circles equates sin with that "something" we are to forsake.
That is true, but only partially. What about those "good" things we
do that even though they would not be labeled "sins", they contribute
to our plight of spiritual malnutrition?

In Luke 10:38-42, the scriptures clearly illustrate this difference
between "good things" & "God things". In preparing to welcome Christ
to their home, Martha becomes frustrated with her sister Mary because
she feels like she is doing all the work. Martha proceeds to tell
Jesus to that He should instruct Mary to give her a hand. Jesus'
reply indicates that He is more concerned with God things (spending
time with Him) than good things (serving).

As you begin to grow in Christ, there is an all too common temptation
to spend more time serving God rather than spending more time with
God. Somewhere along the way, we get sidetracked and avert our eyes
from the person of Jesus only to place them on the things of Jesus.
The fallacy that trips us up is our focus on these things as objective
entities apart from living fellowship with God. Faith becomes sterile
when the emphasis is on the impersonal aspects of Jesus.

As "good" and as necessary as service is, we must not see it as the
substance of our faith. It is merely a by-product of the relationship
we have with the living Lord.

TODAY'S CHALLENGE: Our most subtle idolatries are in making the
commands of God greater than God himself. Let's get back to His Feet.
And while we are there, let's aim to not just read the scriptures.
Let's actually spend time thinking about what we have read! That
might mean you don't get to read a whole chapter. That might mean
being stuck on one particular verse for 2 weeks! And you know what?
That is perfectly okay. God wants quality time, not quantity time.

"Are you neglecting the one thing that's necessary for a billion
things that aren't?" - Matt Chandler

Edifying, Encouraging & Enlightening,AGospelPreacha